Richard Henry Lee on militia - the whole body of people armed

[CarrollMS]

Richard Henry Lee, a Virginia representative to the Continental Congress who submitted the Lee Resolution in June 1776 for Independence, 

"Whereas, to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them; nor does it follow from this, that all promiscuously must go into actual service on every occasion. The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle; and when we see many men disposed to practice upon it, whenever they can prevail, no wonder true republicans are for carefully guarding against it."


Richard Henry Lee, The Pennsylvania Gazette, Feb. 20, 1788  (my 3rd Cousin, 8x removed through the Corbins)
His statement dovetails with our grand cause in Project Appleseed